Variator



R. B. HAMLIN Dec. 3, 1968 VARIATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1967 INVENTOR. RICHARD B. HAMLIN ATTOR NEYS Dec. 3, 1968 HAMUN 3,413,867

' VARIATOR Filed Feb. 28 967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD B. HAMLIN ATTORNEYS Dec. 3, 1968 R. B. HAMLIN 3,413,867

VARIATOR Filed Feb. 28, 1967 4 Sheets-5heet 3 y I II- m 'IIIIIIII i I 74 INVENTOR.

RICHARD B. HAMLIN ATTORN EYS R. B. HAMLIN Dec. 3, 1968 VARIATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 28, 1967 INVENTOR. RICHARD B. HAMLIN AT TOR N EYS United States Patent 3,413,867 VARIATOR Richard B. Hamlin, Altoona, Pa., assignor to Veeder Industries Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 619,408 28 Claims. (Cl. 74-348) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a variator for a fuel dispenser, a gear cone rotatably supported on a frame with a plurality of range arm assemblies mounted thereon, the range arm assemblies each including a unitary gear positioning carriage having a helical detenting rack engageable with the frame for obtaining varying outputs from the gear cone in accordance with a selected setting, and a plurality of rotary amplifying levers respectively driven by the range arm assemblies for operating price posting wheels, the rotary amplifying levers having circular hub portions supported in stacked relation for rotation on the frame.

This invention relates to speed change mechanisms or variators and has as a primary object the provision of an improved variator having a minimum number of parts of which a relatively large number are of identical construction providing significant cost saving economies in the manufacture of the variator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved variator specifically designed for facile assembly in a high speed operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved variator primarily usable in a computing head of a gasoline dispensing apparatus and which incorporates a unique range arm assembly for selectively establishing a price at which the variator is set to compute.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved range arm assembly particularly suited for a variator of the type having a plurality of range arm assemblies and which by appropriate selection of its output gear may be used for each of the range arm assemblies of the variator.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved variator of rugged, lightweight and compact construction of minimal overall height.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which is exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section and partly broken away, of a variator incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational section view, partly in section and partly broken away, generally taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, showing a range arm assembly of the variator;

FIG. 4 is a view of the range arm assembly, partly in section and partly broken away, generally taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

Patented Dec. 3, 1968 FIG. 5 is a view of the range arm. assembly, partly in section and partly broken away, generally taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the variator and showing a range arm assembly in a lock-out position; I

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view, partly broken away and partly in section, generally taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and showing a number wheel assembly mounted on an upper platform of the variator; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section view, partly broken away gridG p271rtly in section, generally taken along line 8-8 of Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, a frame 10 of a variator is shown in FIG. 2 having an upper frame member on platform 12 supported on a lower frame member or base 14 by a plurality of vertical supports such as that shown at 16.

A bushing 18, keyed to a central hub 20 of the base '14, provides thrust bearing support for a gear cone 22 suitably secured on a vertical drive shaft 24 shown extending upwardly through the platform 12 and with a bevel gear 26 fixed to an upper axial end thereof. The drive shaft 24 is adapted to be driven, e.g., by a conventional meter, not shown, of a gasoline dispensing apparatus whereby the bevel gear 26 can be used to drive a quantity counter, not shown, of a register associated with the variator for progressively registering the number of gallons passing through the meter during each dispensing operation.

The illustrated gear cone 22 has a series of nine separate gear steps of varying diameter, and a plurality of range arm assemblies such as that shown at 28 in FIGS. 2 and 3 are provided, with each range arm assembly having a range shaft 30 mounted in a vertical position, as described more specifically below, to be selectively driven by any one of the series of gear steps at varying speeds, in a relationship of one through nine inclusive, by adjustment of the range arm assembly to different vertical positions representing, e.g., different prices per gallon.

To provide a price for the total gallonage dispensed, a take-off spur gear 32 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 as being rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 24 for driving a cost counter, not shown, of the register by the combined outputs of the range shafts which are respectively transmitted by gearing, described in detail below, to a suitable adding differential 34, also shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, coaxially mounted on the drive shaft 24 for driving the take-off gear 32.

As will be readily understood by one skilled in the art, three range shafts such as 30 are conventionally provided and the differential means 34 is designed so that the outputs of the range shafts are combined to drive the take-off gear 32 in the ratio of 1:10:100, respectively, whereby the output of a first range shaft may be equal to multiples of ten cents, the output of a second range shaft may be made equal to multiples of one cent and the output of a third range shaft may be made equal to multiples of tenths of a cent. The output of the take-off gear 32 thus can be varied within a wide range to provide different prices per gallon of the gasoline dispensed for registering the cost of the total gallons passing through the meter at a prevailing unit price as determined by the setting of the variator. I

. To permit operation of the drive shaft 24 in one angular direction while yet preventing improper reverse rotation, three equiangularly spaced one-way ratchet teeth such as that shown at 36 are formed within the bottom of gear cone 22 for cooperating with a plastic noback pawl 38. As best seen in FIG. 6, the pawl 38 embraces the central hub of the base 14 and has arms 40 extending in opposite radial directions and disposed between a plurality of pins 42 fixed to the base 14 and positioning the slide 38 for linear reciprocable movement to an extent limited by the central hub 20.

Referring now to the range arm assembly 28 as best seen in FIGS. 2-5, the range shaft 30 has a sliding spur gear 44 keyed thereto by a key 46 and fitted for longitudinal movement along a keyway 48 in the range shaft 30. The sliding gear 44 is supported in captured relation between a pair of bushings 50, 52 retained within upper and lower vertically spaced hubs 54, 56 of a gear positioning carriage 58.

The positioning carriage 58 has a radial arm 60 shown extending outwardly from the upper hub 54, and an integral substantially hollow post 62 (FIG. 3) depends from the radial arm 60 for rotatably supporting the hub of an idler spur gear 64 in mesh with the sliding gear 44. The idler gear 64 is preferably formed of Delrin, nylon or similar tough, self-lubricating plastic material. The lower end of post 62 is of tubular shape and is of sufli cient length to permit its being simply flared over a retaining washer 66 to rotatably secure the idler gear 64 in operative position.

The positioning carriage 58 is provided with an integral helical detenting rack 68 having upper and lower end portions secured to the upper and lower hubs 54, 56, e.g., by radially extending brace members 70, 72. The brace members 70, 72 together form a generally U- shaped channel 74 which receives an upright portion 76 of a range arm frame or bail 78 having apertu'red upper and lower horizontal arms 80, 82 formed in a continuation with the upright portion 76 for receiving opposite axial ends of the range shaft 30. The upper arm of the bail 78 has an annular knob or hub 84 formed thereon with an integral gear segment 86 extending axially upwardly therefrom and a bushing insert 88 (FIG. 4) fitted within the hub 84 serving to provide bearing support for an upper axial end 90 of the range shaft 30.

The above described range arm assembly provides for the positioning carriage 58 to be angularly and axially positioned on the range shaft 30, and the bail member 78 is coupled by the U-shaped channel 74 to the positioning carriage 58 to be simultaneously angularly positioned in accordance with the angular position of the carriage.

To provide a variator of minimal over-all height, the base 14 is integrally formed with a plurality of equiangularly spaced recessed pockets 92 for receiving each range arm assembly 28. Each pocket 92 has a downwardly extending tubular bearing compartment 94 shown having a closed bottom, and a bushing 96 (FIG. 2) is fitted in each bearing compartment 94 for providing radial bearing support for a lower axial end 98 of the range shaft 30. In addition, a boss 100 surrounds each bearing compartmerit 94 for effecting thrust bearing support for the bail 78. As best seen in FIG. 6-, three such pockets 92 are provided with their bearing compartments 94 positioned adjacent the lowest gear step of the gear cone 22 at equal radial distances from the drive shaft axis and at angular intervals of 120.

As illustrated, the idler gear 64 of the range arm assembly 28 has a diameter greater than that of its sliding gear 44 and is disposed relative to its range shaft 30 such that the idler gear 64 can be selectively meshed with the gear cone 22 by vertically and angularly adjusting the positioning carriage 58. In this regard, the helical detenting rack 68 is provided with a series of ten index notches along its lower edge portion such as at 102 for receiving a stud 104 and for thereby accurately positioning the idler gear 64 in appropriately correlated vertical and angular positions in mesh with the gear steps of the gear cone 22. For changing the setting of the variator and thus for varying the unit price at which it is set for computing, the different vertical positions and the correspondingly different angular positions of the range arm assembly 28 are shown indicated by numerical indicia 1 through 9 provided on its helical detenting rack 68.

A tenth notch denoted by the numeral zero is shown at the upper end of the helical rack 68 and is indicative of a lock-out position whereby upon setting its corresponding notch upon the stud 104, the idler gear 64 is positioned outwardly of the gear cone 22 in engagement with a lock-out stud 106. A recess 108 (FIG. 6) is provided for accommodating the lower projecting portion of the post 62 supporting the idler gear 64 when the range arm assembly is in its lowermost position in engagement with the largest gear of the cone 22.

In fitting together the parts of the range arm assemblies 28, an output gear 110 of proper size is pressed fit on the range shaft 30 in a properly located axial position thereon for driving a corresponding input gear of the associated differential 34. The upper part of the frame portion 76 is shown suitably stepped to provide three vertically spaced horizontal stops suited to underlie marginal portions of output gears of varying diameter and to maintain the components in assembled relation before journaling the range arm assemblies in proper position on the frame 10 with the bushing insert 88. Also, the deformable tubular post 62 further facilitates assembly of the idler gear 64 in proper meshing engagement with the sliding gear 44 of each range arm assembly 28. Moreover, since each individual range farm assembly 28 is of identical construction except for its output gear 110, the entire positioning carriage 58 and the bail 78 are each cast as single piece integral units to effect significant cost saving economies in the manufacture and assembly of the variator.

To provide additional time savings in the assembly of the variator as well as to further reduce its cost of manufacture, both the platform 12 and the base 14 are individually cast of a suitable rugged, but lightweight material to provide integral units of generally circular configuration. In view of the above described structure, many of the various parts provided on the base 14 can be integrally formed thereon such as, e.g., the pins 42, the recessed pockets 92 as well as their bearing compartments 94, the locating studs 104, suitable limit pins for the carriage 58 and the tooth-like lock-out studs 106.

In addition, each of the vertical supports 16 comprise a hollow depending post portion 112 and an upstanding hollow post portion or seat 114 respectively formed as integral portions of the platform 12 and base 14 in a symmetrical arrangement thereon adjacent their respective marginal edges. Preferably, three such supports 16 are provided for maintaining the platform 12 in parallel spaced relation above the base 14, and the depending and upstanding post portions 112, 114 are shown tapered, respectively, toward one another. Specifically, each depending post portion 112 has a cup-shaped end with a recessed bottom 118 and a downwardly projecting rim 116 thereby forming a socket which is adapted to be fitted onto the upper end of its trnating seat 114 in overlapping nesting engagement to provide self-locating and self-aligning vertical assembly for quick and easy attachment of the platform 12 to the base 14 once the range arm assemblies 28 have been oriented in their respective pockets 92, and the gear cone 22 and the differential 34 are properly mounted on the drive shaft 24.

If desired, a cylindrical cover, not shown, can be positioned within conforming annular guideways 115, 117 respecti ely formed on the platform 12 and base 14, and a suitable sliding door can be provided for access to the range arm assemblies for adjusting the setting of the variator.

Obviously, it is a simple matter to fit the upper extensions of the drive shaft 24 and the range arm assemblies 28 through suitable openings formed in the platform 12 such as that shown at 119 in FIG. 2, whereupon screw fasteners 120 may be easily installed to secure the post portions 112, 114 together and thereby secure the entire variator assembly, it being seen that the enlarged annular hubs 84 formed on the top of the bails 78 of the range arm assemblies 28 provide for journaling the range arm assemblies in respective openings 119 in the platform 12.

For securing the variator in assembled operative position in a gasoline dispensing apparatus, a plurality of depending posts 121 (only one being shown in FIG. 2) are formed on the base 14, and detachable reversible mounting lugs 122 are provided for extension upwardly or downwardly of the platform 12 with each mounting lug 122 fitted into a corresponding seat 124 formed on the marginal edge of the platform 12. Each seat 124 has a pair of projections 126, 128 which are of an unequal size for one-way receipt of each of the mounting lugs 122 to ensure that they are properly oriented for purposes of assembly.

Since it is not unusual for the price of gasoline to fluctuate frequently, it is desirable to provide visual indication of the prevailing unit price and for this reason it will be understood that two opposite sets of number wheels 130 are provided for visually displaying the unit price corresponding to the setting of the variator.

The platform 12 is provided with a pair of ledges 131, 132 (FIG. 1) projecting radially outwardly from opposite sides of the platform 12 with each ledge 131, 132 having three downwardly extending cylindrical projections 133 such as that shown in FIG. 7 providing three mounting sockets 134 which are arranged in side-by-side linear alignment for mounting opposite price posting number wheels 130. It will be understood that each set of number wheels comprises three wheels of increasing order with each number wheel having suitable indicia whereby each set of number wheels will indicate the gasoline price up to 99.9. It will be sufficient to describe only one of the number wheels since each number wheel is of substantially identical construction.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a number wheel 130 is shown comprising a cup shaped indicia bearing rim and a supporting shaft 136 secured thereto and preferably formed of plastic. The shaft 136 is provided with an integral drive pinion 138 adjacent its upper end and a single tooth or detent lug 140 at the lower axial end thereof which is slotted to permit radial inward flexing of the tooth 140 on the shaft 136. A boss 142 surrounds a mounting socket 134 to serve as a seat for the drive pinion 138, upon fitting the shaft 136 in its socket 134, the tooth 140 passes through an axial slot 144 in the socket and is received within an enlarged bottom portion thereof. To set the number wheel 130 to a zero angular position shown in FIG. 8, the shaft 136 is turned to cam the resilient tooth 140 over a cam or limit stop 146 and into an adjacent indentation 148 both formed in the depending sidewall of the socket, the shaft 136 being thereafter retained in the socket by the limit stop 146 and a similar limit stop 150 provided on the opposite side of the slot 144. The number wheel 130 is accordingly retained against axial displacement by the engagement of the tooth 140 with a shoulder 152 which defines the upper limits of the enlarged bottom portion of the socket 134. A series of angularly spaced detent indentations similar to the indentation 148 are shown formed in the enlarged bottom portion of the socket 134 in corresponding relation to the indicia on the rim of the number wheel whereby upon rotating the number wheel, its tooth 140 will ride over the intermediate pro jections and spring into the next indentation to effect selflocation of the number wheel 130 while also maintaining it in a selected position against unintended movement.

To automatically set each number wheel upon adjustment of the range arm assemblies 28, a plurality of rotary amplifying levers 154, 156 and 158 are shown for operating corresponding number wheels of the opposite sets in response to angular movement of the positioning carriages 58. Each of the rotary amplifying levers 154, 156 and 158 is formed of lightweight rigid material such as aluminum sheet metal and are respectively provided with circular hub portions 160, 162 and 164 centrally positioned on the platform 12 in a vertically stacked arrangement with each lever having suitably formed gear teeth on its opposite ends for meshing with the drive pinions 138 of its corresponding pair of number wheels.

The rotary amplifying levers 154, 156 which operate the highest and lowest order number wheels, are of identical construction wherein the levers 154, 156 need only be mounted in relatively transposed relation for rotation about a common axis to provide suitable cross drives to their respective number wheels of the opposite sets. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hub portions 160, 162 of levers 154, 156 are radially supported on an upstanding circular wall or bearing 166 concentric with the central drive shaft 24 and axially supported on a boss 168, both of which are integrally formed on the platform 12. The rotary amplifying levers 154 and 156 each have a double set of mutilated gears 172, 174 formed on their hub portions and 162 for meshing engagement respectively with the gear segments 86 associated with the ten cent and one-tenth cent range arm assemblies, and the remaining or third rotary amplifying lever 158 is shown with a single mutilated gear 176 provided on its hub portion 164 for meshing engagement with the gear segment 86 of the one cent range arm assembly, whereby rotary movement of the carriage of each range arm assembly 28 is transmitted to their corresponding number wheels 130 of the opposite sets for indicating the position of the range arm assemblies and accordingly the established price. Each of the above mentioned mutilated gears are of suflicient size to ensure proper rotation of their respective number wheels through each of the various detented positions corresponding to the various settings of the range arm assemblies, and excessive travel is prevented by reason of the aforementioned limit pins 105 which will be seen to limit the angular movement of the levers 154, 156 and 158 as well as their associated range arm assemblies.

To compensate for the side-by-side linear alignment of each set of number wheels so that each opposite pair of corresponding number wheels will be provided with the same angular displacement or amplification for a corresponding angular movement of their respective gear positioning carriage 58, the hub portion 164 of the uppermost rotary amplifying lever 158, for operating the intermediate order number wheels, is supported for rotation about an axis parallel to but eccentric to the common rotational axis of levers 154, 156. In this regard, a second upstanding circular wall or hearing 180 of less diameter than the circular bearings 166 is provided immediately above the bearing 166 having an eccentric axis which is shown offset a distance X perpendicular to a major axial plane YY of the variator which extends through the central drive shaft axis and the sockets 134 for mounting the intermediate order number wheels of the opposite sets. The eccentricity of the bearing 180 is designed to enable the rotary amplifying, lever 158 to provide the same amplification or drive ratio between its drive gear segment 86 and number wheel pinion 138 as is provided by the identical levers 154, 156, thus enabling the number wheels to be identically constructed.

The levers 154, 156 and 158 are retained in properly stacked relation against axial movement by a pair of generally L-shaped fingers 180, 182 oppositely disposed in facing relation for receiving diametrically opposed portions of the hub 164 of the lever 158. Also, any possibility of the underlying levers 154, 156 overriding intermediate lever 158 is effectively eliminated by the provision of a pair of wings on each of the lever arms of the lever 158 which project in generally opposite directions thereby to ensure interference free operation of the levers 154, 156 and 158.

A variator having a construction of the type described above is of compact size with a minimal over-all height and in view of the extensive use of integrally formed parts, a large number of which are identical, the variator is particularly suited for quick and easy manufacture and assembly with considerable savings of cost as well as time.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above-described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in a variator including a frame and a gear cone having a series of gear steps mounted for rotation on the frame, a range arm assembly comprising a range shaft, a sliding gear slidably but nonrotatably mounted on said range shaft, and a unitary gear positioning carriage mounted on said range shaft for independent sliding and rotary movement, said unitary gear positioning carriage having a radial arm projecting outwardly of said range shaft, an idler gear rotatably supported on said radial arm in continuous meshing engagement with said sliding gear and for selective meshing engagement with the series of gear steps for driving said range shaft responsive to rotation of the gear cone, and a helical detenting rack secured to said radial arm and having a series of notches corresponding to the series of gear steps for setting said sliding gear in a selected position axially of said range shaft while retaining said unitary gear positioning carriage against rotation therewith.

2. The range arm assembly of claim 1 wherein said radial arm of said unitary gear positioning carriage has an integral post formed thereon extending parallel to said range shaft for rotatably supporting said idler gear, said post having a tubular axial end deformable for rotatably securing said idler gear against axial displacement relative to said radial arm.

3. The variator of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a lower frame member and an upper frame member secured in spaced parallel relation to the lower frame member, and indicator means supported for operation on the upper frame member for showing a prevailing setting of the variator, and wherein said range arm assembly further includesa bail coupled to said unitary gear positioning carriage for simultaneous rotary movement relative to said range shaft, and a driving connection between said bail and the indicator means for operating the indicator means during a setting operation responsive to rotary movement of said unitary gear positioning carriage.

4. The range arm assembly of claim 1 wherein said gear positioning carriage further comprises a pair of hub members axially spaced apart for sliding movement on said range shaft with said sliding gear retained in captured relation between said hub members for movement therewith axially of said range shaft, said radial arm being fixed to one of said hub members, and said hub members each being joined to said helical detenting rack and forming a gear positioning carriage of unitary construction.

5. The range arm assembly of claim 3 wherein said bail includes a hub providing a bearing for an upper axial end of said range shaft, said hub being journaled in the upper frame member and having an integral gear segment projecting therethrough and constituting a part of said driving connection between said bail and the indicator means.

6. For use in a variator, a variator frame comprising a lower frame member, an upper frame member, and support means for maintaining said upper frame member in elevated assembled relation to said lower frame member including a plurality of posts integrally formed on one of said frame members and projecting toward the other thereof, said other of said frame members having a plurality of integrally formed seats respectively engageable with said posts in overlapping nesting engagement for self-aligning vertical assembly of said upper frame member upon said lower frame member.

7. The variator frame of claim 6 wherein said posts each include a cup shaped end having a projecting rim defining a recessed socket for receiving a corresponding seat in overlapping nesting engagement.

8. The variator frame of claim 7 wherein said seats are provided on said lower frame member, said upper frame member being provided with said posts corresponding in number and arrangement to said seats, said posts each having a cavity formed therein, and wherein a fastener is installed within each said cavity for securing each of said posts to its respective seat.

9. In combination with a variator of a type including a frame, a gear cone having a series of gear steps supported for rotation on the frame, a plurality of range arm assemblies mounted on the frame and respectively having a movable gear positioning member and a gear supported thereon for meshing engagement with a selected one of the series of gear steps for obtaining varying outputs in accordance with a selected setting, a plurality of indicator wheels of increasing order supported for rotation on the frame for respectively indicating the setting of the range arm assemblies, and a driving connection between each of the range arm assemblies and their respective indicator wheels for setting the same when the gear positioning members are moved, an improvement comprising a plurality of rotary amplifying levers in the driving connection corresponding in number to the range arm assemblies for respectively operating their associated indicator wheels, said rotary amplifying levers each having a circular hub portion supported for rotation on the frame in stacked relation.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said plurality of rotary amplifying levers include a pair of interchangeable rotary amplifying levers of identical construction arranged in relatively transposed position on the frame for rotation about a common axis, said pair of levers each having a double set of mutilated gears provided on said circular hub portion thereof for alternative driving connection to different ones of a pair of the range arm assemblies.

11. The variator of claim 9 wherein each gear positioning member is rotatable in a sequence of angular steps in selectively setting its associated gear in meshing engagement with the series of gear steps, and wherein the improvement further comprises a mutilated gear on said circular hub portion of each of said rotary amplifying levers for transmitting angular movement of each of the gear positioning members to their respective indicator wheels.

12. The improvement of claim 9 further comprising a pair of generally L-shaped retaining members provided on the frame in opposed facing relation for maintaining said circular hub portions of said rotary amplifying levers in stacked relation against displacement axially of their rotational axes.

13. The variator of claim 9 wherein a pair of indicator wheels is provided for each of the range arm assemblies with one wheel of each pair provided in each of two sets of indicator wheels of increasing order supported in side-by-side linear alignment on opposite sides of the frame, and the improvement wherein said rotary amplifying levers are positioned with said circular hub portions thereof in stacked relation intermediate the opposite sets of indicator wheels, and said rotary amplifying levers each having a pair of arms rigidly fixed to its said circular hub portion and extending outwardly thereof in generally opposite directions for operating corresponding indicator wheels of the opposite sets.

14. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said plurality of rotary amplifying levers include a third rotary amplifying lever rotatable about an axis parallel to but offset from said common axis of said first pair of levers for providing the same angular displacement to an indicator wheel of an intermediate order as that provided to number wheels of relatively higher and lower order by said first pair of levers responsive to a corresponding angular movement of their respective gear positioning members.

15. The improvement of claim 11 further comprising a hub on each gear positioning member journaled in the frame and forming a bearing for its associated range arm assembly, each said hub having a gear segment integrally formed thereon and projecting beyond the frame in mesh with said mutilated gear on said circular hub portion of its respective rotary amplifying lever.

16. The variator of claim 11 wherein the indicator wheels each have indicia thereon in spaced relation corresponding to the series of angular steps of its associated gear positioning member, and the improvement further comprising resilient detent means operable upon operation of the indicator wheels for locating the same in any one of a series of positions corresponding to the indicia on the indicator wheels while also maintaining the same in a selected detented position against unintended movement.

17. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said circular hub portion of said third rotary amplifying lever is positioned in overlying relation to each said circular hub portion of said first pair of levers, and wherein said third rotary amplifying lever includes a pair of wings projecting in generally opposite directions for preventing overriding thereof by said first pair of levers to minimize any possibility of interference during a setting operation.

18. The variator of claim 14 wherein said indicator wheels are positioned in side-by-side linear alignment, and wherein the improvement further comprises a bearing formed on the frame concentric to said common rotational axis of said first pair of levers providing radial support for each of said circular hub portions thereof, and a second bearing formed on the frame in eccentric relation to said first bearing and providing radial support for said circular hub portion of said third rotary amplifying lever for maintaining the same for rotation about an axis parallel to but offset from said common rotational axis of said first pair of levers.

19. In a variator, a frame having a lower frame member and an upper frame member supported thereon in spaced relation, a gear cone supported for rotation on said lower frame member, a plurality of range arm assemblies positioned in equally spaced relation to one another in a symmetrical arrangement relative to said gear cone, said range arm assemblies each having a rotary range shaft vertically mounted on said frame, a sliding gear slidably but nonrotatably mounted on said range shaft, and a unitary gear positioning carriage mounted on said range shaft for independent sliding and rotary movement for obtaining varying outputs from said gear cone in accordance with a selected setting, a plurality of indicator wheels of increasing order supported for rotation on said upper frame member for respectively indicating the setting of said range arm assemblies, and a driving connection between each of said range arm assemblies and their respective indicator wheels for automatically setting the same responsive to rotation of each said unitary gear positioning carriage, said driving connection including a plurality of rotary amplifying levers corresponding in member to said range arm assemblies for respectively operating their associated indicator wheels, said rotary amplifying levers each having a circular hu b portion supported for rotation on said upper frame member in stacked relation.

20. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein said lower frame member further includes a plurality of recessed pockets integrally formed therein and corresponding in number to said range arm assemblies for seating the same in a variator of minimal over-all height.

21. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein said frame further comprises support means for maintaining said upper frame member in elevated assembled relation to said lower frame member and including a plurality of posts integrally formed on one of said frame members and projecting toward the other thereof, said other of said frame members having a plurality of integrally formed seats respectively engageable with said posts in overlapping nesting engagement for self-aligning vertical assembly of said upper frame member upon said lower frame member.

22. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein said indicator wheels each have indicia thereon for indicating the setting of its respective range arm assembly, said upper frame member including a plurality of mounting sockets formed therein in side-by-side linear alignment each having an enlarged lower end opening with a series of axially extending indentations formed in corresponding relation to said indicia in said upper frame member surrounding said enlarged lower end opening, and said indicator wheels each having a coaxial shaft secured thereto for rotation in response to operation of said rotary amplifying levers, said shaft including a resilient lower end portion having a tooth fixed thereto and received in said enlarged lower end opening of its mounting socket for resiliently locating said indicator wheel in a selected position and maintaining it against unintended movement.

23. The mechanism of claim 20 wherein said recessed pockets each include a tubular bearing compartment formed in the bottom thereof for receiving a lower axial end of said range shaft of its associated range arm assembly.

24. The mechanism of claim 20 wherein said lower frame member further includes an integral locating stud formed thereon adjacent each of said recessed pockets near a side edge of said lower frame member, and wherein said unitary gear positioning carriage of each of said range arm assemblies further comprises a radial arm projecting outwardly of said range shaft and movable axially thereof with said sliding gear, an idler gear rotatably supported on said radial arm in continuous meshing engagement with said sliding gear and for selective meshing engagement with a series of gear steps on said gear cone, and a helical detenting rack secured to said radial arm and having a series of notches corresponding to the series of gear steps on said gear cone engageable with said locating'stud in a selected position axially of said range shaft for setting said idler gear in selected meshing engagement with said gear cone.

25. The mechanism of claim 24 wherein said unitary gear positioning carriage of each of said range arm assemblies further comprises a bail coupled to said helical detenting rack for simultaneous rotation therewith relative to said range shaft, said bail having a hub providing a bearing rotatably supporting an upper axial end of said range shaft, said hub being journaled in said upper frame member and having an integral gear segment projecting therethrough and constituting a part of said driving connection between each of said range arm assemblies and their respective indicator wheels.

26. The mechanism of claim 24 wherein said sliding gears of said range arm assemblies are of equal diameter with a like number of teeth, and wherein said idler gears of said unitary gear positioning carriages are of equal diameter with a like number of teeth.

27. The mechanism of claim 25 wherein said circular hub portion of each of said rotary amplifying levers includes a mutilated gear in mesh with said integral gear segment of its respective range arm assembly.

28. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein three said indicator wheels are positioned in side-by-side linear alignment on said upper frame member, and wherein said upper frame member includes a bearing formed thereon concentric to a rotational axis of said gear cone and providing radial support for said circular hub portions of a pair of said rotary amplifying levers, and a second bearing being formed on said upper frame member in eccentric relation to said first bearing and providing radial support for said circular hub portion of a third rotary amplifying lever for maintaining the same for movement about a rotational axis parallel to but offset from that of said pair of levers.

12 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,996 3/1938 Slye 74--348 5 3,054,531 9/1962 Carriol 74-348 3,125,891 3/1964 Bruet 74-354 3,175,414 3/1965 Wells 74-354 FRED C. MATTERN, 111., Primary Examiner.

10 H. S. LAYTON, Assistant Examiner. 

